Explores how middle-class American values and national identity were promoted and demonstrated through tableware designed for the American market in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Material Culture of Tableware is a fascinating and authoritative study of patterned tableware in the USA. This book undertakes a visual analysis of Johnson Brothers patterns of tableware pottery, with reference to comparable designs by other British companies, such as Spode and Adams. It examines how this practical genre reflected the aesthetic values, sense of identity and aspirations of the American consumers who purchased its products. The study also sheds light on British opinions and understandings of American culture.

The book’s chronological organization shows how tableware designs reflected the cultural developments of American society during the long 20th century. From status-seeking 1890s beaux-arts patterns and the nostalgic historical scenes of the 1930s, to whimsical 1960s patterns and the contemporary motifs of the 1970s, The Material Culture of Tableware tells a compelling story about who 20th-century middle-class Americans were and wanted to be.

"A welcome addition to the existing body of literature ... Succeeds in expanding on the fact-based approach that such books usually boast." - Journal of Design History

"Zarucchi serves up wonderful insights into the transatlantic tableware trade, which celebrates the influence of British design on American culture." - Rob Kesseler, Professor of Art, Design and Science at Central Saint Martins, UK

"A rigorous survey of Staffordshire printed tableware and its export to America, across three centuries of this special cultural relationship." - Stephen Dixon, Professor of Contemporary Crafts at Manchester School of Art, UK

"If you ever wondered where your dinnerware or antique souvenir plate was produced, this fascinating book is sure to inform you." - Anna Calluori Holcombe, Professor of Art at the University of Florida, USA